What is EMDR?

EMDR (Eye Motion Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a scientifically-proven therapeutic technique to help the body heal from trauma. When a person experiences a traumatic event, often the body and mind do not know how to properly digest or react to the information, causing the nervous system to freeze in that state for a long period of time. The body is stuck in a hyperaware, dissociated state in order to avoid and protect from the overwhelming stress.

EMDR addresses trauma through a combination of cognitive techniques, exposure and grounding bilateral stimulation. The goal is to allow the body to finish processing traumatic experiences and to place the past in the past. Bilateral stimulation involves focusing one’s eyes on a light moving from side to side, bilateral sounds or vibrations in the hands. EMDR allows for tapping into the innate capacity for self healing and recovery.